A growing number of cases last year involved personal information being stolen during hiring and job-seeking processes conducted through used-goods trading apps, leading to unauthorized sign-ups for specific apps, officials said. Authorities warned the stolen data could be used for follow-on crimes such as financial fraud.
The Korea Communications and Media Commission and the Korea Information and Communications Promotion Association said Thursday they published the “2025 Online Harm Counseling Casebook,” summarizing 50 major cases drawn from consultations received by the Online Harm 365 Center.
The casebook is based on counseling records from the center, which provides one-on-one consultations and follow-up support for online harm. The center handled 4,181 consultations last year, pushing its cumulative total past 10,000, the agencies said.
The publication organizes 50 selected cases by type, chosen for frequency and significance. It covers eight areas — goods and services, telecommunications, content, rights violations, cyber financial crime, illegal and harmful content, digital sex crimes and cyber violence — and includes real-world examples along with prevention tips and response measures.
Officials highlighted a noticeable rise in cases in which scammers obtained personal data through job-related exchanges on used-goods apps. They said the information can be exploited in “romance scam” schemes, in which a perpetrator approaches a victim by feigning romantic interest, then uses the data to create unauthorized accounts or to facilitate financial fraud. The commission said victims should quickly close any accounts opened without consent and take steps to block additional harm.
Along with counseling narratives, the casebook includes response guidance, consultation outcomes, and related laws and court precedents. It also provides information on the center’s operations, how to request counseling, annual intake and processing figures, and user reviews.
“As the online environment changes, the types of harm are becoming more diverse and more sophisticated,” commission Chairman Kim Jong-cheol said. He said he hopes the casebook will help the public prevent harm and respond quickly when incidents occur.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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